While delivering a speech at the event, Gogi Salakaia, the founder of Badagoni, said that the Tourist Gate and the newly opened restaurant give a new impetus to development, create new jobs and a new perspective. 

“I am proud of the fact that, with the blessing of Abba Alaverdeli Rev. David, we were all able to breathe new life into the viability of Kakheti region and the Alaverdi Diocese in a very difficult situation. 

In this regard, I would like to emphasize the contribution made by our partners from the United States Agency for International Development and the company RUDERAL and the outstanding kindness shown by the central and local authorities.

The most important, in my opinion, is the fact that through the new comfortable infrastructure created, Georgian citizens and foreign visitors will be given the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty on the Gombori Ridge. Thousands of pilgrims or cultural tourism enthusiasts will be able to see the pearls of the Georgian Christian architecture, such as the New and Old Shuamta Monasteries. I think that in this difficult period, when the country has gone through the pandemic and the war is raging in our neighborhood, peace, spiritual tranquility and just positive emotions, joy, sorrow and everything that makes people's lives interesting and happy should be especially appreciated. I want to thank you all and congratulate you on this day and this extraordinary launch! I hope we can do many more good things together. I am sure that tens of thousands of travelers will share this beauty of this blessed country made by the nature, the God or a man!” - Gogi Salakaia said. 

Shuamta Gate is a tourist facility in the Diocese of Alaverdi - a visitor management center, which aims to preserve the heritage of Alaverdi and promote the tourism sector. The Badagoni Wine Company, with the support of the Partnership Fund of Georgia and USAID, is the management company of the Shuamta Tourist Gate and Ikalto Qvevri School Academy, which takes care of the infrastructural development of the facilities. The Visitor Welcome Center was activated with the direct involvement of Badagoni.

Mark McCord, the Head of the USAID Economic Security Program, is confident that Alaverdi will become a major tourist attraction in Kakheti. He spoke about it during his speech at the event.

The Shuamta Gate Visitor Welcome Center and Ikalto Qvevri School Academy will serve the visitors as the connecting points of the Alaverdi Heritage Trail.

The parties agreed on a partnership to increase the economic potential of Kakheti region, develop Alaverdi's heritage as a unique tourist destination, combining three distinctive historical monuments: Shuamta, Ikalto and Alaverdi.